MISSIONARIES
Joseph Smith said, "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation."
(Lectures on Faith, p. 58.)
NEW MISSIONARIES
In August we received 6 new missionaries in New Caledonia on a Friday. The Americans arrived in the morning and the two Tahitian Elders arrived in the evening. These missionaries were greeted with challenges almost immediately. One Sister had only been in New Caledonia for a couple of hours. After a few instructions and a brief drive with Elder Glade, she, since her senior companion doesn't drive, was put behind the wheel of car with three other sisters. The car is small and with four people inside the windows kept fogging up. It was raining. She couldn't see well. The other sisters were almost as nervous as she was because they knew she hadn't driven in New Caledonia, and they were making her even more nervous. She had to drive two sisters to their new area and then continue some distance farther with her companion to their apartment. There were several roundabouts {which are scary here, until you get used to them and understand there is method in the madness} that had to be negotiated on the way. As Elder Glade and I watched her determinedly grip the steering wheel and drive away in the rain I felt a little like I have felt watching our own children drive off as they've left home for a new phase in their lives. We marveled at the challenge and the adventure--their youth and their courage. Three days later the gate opener to these sisters' secured parking wouldn't work and they couldn't get their car out. They were on foot for the day until we could get a new battery for the remote to them.
A second new sister, after a nerve-wracking car ride, got to an apartment with no electricity and a broken door that hadn't been discovered on the inspection before they moved in.
The third sister was assigned to the northernmost place that sisters work; and, while they were out, their apartment was robbed two days after she got there. All of their shampoo, etc., was stolen, as well as the new sister's camera. One of the new Tahitian elders was a companion to the district leader. They went to check on the sisters who were robbed. He had had most of his pants stolen while he was at the MTC in New Zealand and only had a pair or two left. The other new Tahitian elder, the day after he arrived, had to assist Elder Glade when he drained the boil on his companion's neck, and once again the day after that, and then go to the doctor with his companion on Monday in order to get a prescription for antibiotics.
The American elder didn't experience too much excitement, but did get a new companion after only a few days because of an emergency transfer.
On Monday when these sisters, without shampoo or make-up, reported the robbery to the police, the gendarmes were amazed by their calmness and their cheerfulness. The sisters told them that they were happy because they were missionaries and proceeded to share a little about the gospel with them. Each of these missionaries made sacrifices to serve. I was quite amazed at their first few days here. I'm sure they got a bit more than they were expecting, and yet they remained cheerful, unflappable, and ready to thrust in their sickles.
SEASONED MISSIONARIES
Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, and Office Elders
As I have pondered Joseph Smith's quote at the beginning of this blog I have been grateful for a religion that requires sacrifice. I am touched by the sacrifices the young missionaries have made to serve, and the faith that they are developing and strengthening. Their lives are being forever changed and blessed by their service. This is the biggest sacrifice I have ever made for the church; but, as with all sacrifices, the blessings more than compensate. Elder Glade and I are having experiences here that are forever changing and blessing our lives. The gospel does have the power "to lead unto life and salvation."
SOME THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE
(Not exactly life-changing, but a change in our lives.)
Elder Glade holding a deer leg. A member of the stake presidency shot the deer, brought a leg to the office, and gave it to us. Elder Glade "butchered" it. I didn't know how to cook it, but President Goroday gave us good instructions and it was delicious--not at all like the venison my grandpa used to shoot and my grandma cooked and served. A sister in our ward bought a huge bag of fish at the market and gave it to two of the sister missionaries to share with the other missionaries. Not knowing what to do with it, they gave it to Elder Glade who spent an entire evening gutting all the fish which we distributed to as many of the missionaries as we could. The Tahitians were thrilled, many Americans leery; but after some of the Tahitians cooked the fish for the Americans, who loved it, everyone was grateful and happy.
Elder Glade fixing a car in a white shirt--no less!
Here we never know what experiences tomorrow will bring.
